Apparatus for training dogs in sports

ABSTRACT

This invention provides an apparatus for training dogs to compete with other dogs, in sports, singly or in teams, in playing a game which in many ways resembles basketball. Specifically, the apparatus comprises spaced-apart sidewalls, a backwall and a backboard to which is mounted a basket at a desired height. Elongated rails extending from each sidewall form a chute or alley. A ball positioned at the entrance end of the chute is first rolled toward the backwall and hence upwardly and into the basket. Scoring depends on the manner in which the ball is passed, if at all, through the basket. If desired, one or more hurdles may be employed with each dog required to clear each hurdle either before or after (or both) dropping the ball in the basket.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Herbert 0. Wegner La Canada, Calif.

[21] Appl. No. 854,190

[22] Filed Aug. 29, 1969 [45] Patented June 15, 1971 [73] Assignees Herbert O. Wegner;

Martha Wegner Los Angeles, Calif.

[54] APPARATUS FOR TRAINING DOGS IN SPORTS Primary Examiner-Aldrich F. Medbery Altorney-William G. Everett ABSTRACT: This invention provides an apparatus for training dogs to compete with other dogs, in sports, singly or in teams, in playing a game which in many ways resembles basketball. Specifically, the apparatus comprises spaced-apart sidewalls, a backwall and a backboard to which is mounted a basket at a desired height. Elongated rails extending from each sidewall form a chute or alley. A ball positioned at the entrance end of the chute is first rolled toward the backwall and hence upwardly and into the basket. Scoring depends on the manner in which the ball is passed, if at all, through the basket. If desired, one or more hurdles may be employed with each dog required to clear each hurdle either before or after (or both) dropping the ball in the basket.

APPARATUS FOR TRAXNING DOGS IN SPORTS This invention relates to an apparatus for dogs in sports and more particularly for an apparatus to train dogs and for trained dogs to perform in playing a game, the object of which is to drop a ball into a basket.

According to the invention, there is provided for competing dogs in a game wherein a ball is to be dropped into a basket, an apparatus comprising, two spaced-apart sidewall means operatively disposed in a substantially upright position relative to the earth surface, each of the sidewall means having a front end and a rear end; backwall means transversely coupled between the sidewall means near the rear end thereof and at a predetermined inclination relative to the earth surface, the back wall means including ramp means; backboard means adjustably mounted to the sidewall means and including a backboard and a basket supportedly mounted on the backboard, into which basket each dog participating in the game is to cause the ball to move from an initial position near the front ends of the sidewall means and to ultimately pass through the basket with or without contact with the backboard.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a pair of elongated rails extending outwardly from the sidewall means to form a chute or alley through which each participating dog must first roll the ball with his nose or snout toward the backwall means prior to working the ball upwardly along the backwall and into the basket with or without touching the backboard.

In yet another aspect of the invention, one or more hurdles may be positioned in line with the alley and each dog required to clear each hurdle in sequence either on the way to or back from, or both, the apparatus and the respective effort to sink the ball in the basket for a score.

To provide, then, an apparatus for dogs in sports for training and performing purposes is the primary objective of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for dogs in sports to be trained and for trained dogs to perform in playing a game involving a ball which is dropped in a basket mounted in basketball like fashion on the apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having the necessary elements to make it possible for a dog to perform and play a game having characteristics similar in many ways to basketball.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type described that is readily assembled and dismantled for storage and transit purposes.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for the purpose described wherein a game incorporating the essential elements of the well-known game of basketball is played by dogs, either singly against the other or in team competition, said game involving a ball of predetermined size and a netted hoop adjustably disposed on a backboard.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an ap-' paratus of the type described which is adaptable for use with one or more hurdles of variable height and operably disposed relative to said apparatus.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention shown in operable disposition with three spaced apart hurdles, clearing the center hurdle and shown in broken delineation is a participating dog;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention as shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 4-4 shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a crosssectional view of the apparatus taken along the line 5--5 shown in F164.

Referring to the drawing, shown there in perspective at FIG. I is an apparatus it) for dogs in sports according to the invention. FIG. I also depicts one arrangement in which the apparatus i0 is used in conjunction with, in this illustration, three spaced apart hurdles 12a, 12b and 12c, over which each dog, as depicted by the reference numeral 14, must jump either on the way to or on return from, or both if desired, the apparatus 10 for reasons to be described. It should be noted that each of the desired number of hurdles 12 is disposed in linear alignment relative to an entrance alley or chute 16 and along extensions of an arrow 18.

The apparatus 10 for dogs in sports includes two spaced apart sidewall members 20, a backwall member 22 having a ramp 24, a plurality of horizontal cleats 26 and 28 mounted on the backwall member 22 and the ramp 24 respectively, and a pair of elongated side rails 30 extending from the sidewall members 20 to form the alley or chute 16.

The backwall member 22 may be operatively disposed at a predetermined angle 0, reference FIGS. 2 and 4. More specifically, the member 22 may be removably mounted by means of two spaced-apart guides 32 and 34 which are fastened on the inner surfaces of two end members 36 at the angle 0. The end members 36 in turn are secured to each end of a rear wall 38 which may be inclined toward the alley 16 at the same angle 0 for appearance purposes. By inserting conventional fasteners in the openings 40, reference FIGS. 1 and 2, the sidewall members 20 may be removably secured to the end members 36 and the rear wall 38. With this arrangement, the backwall 22 may be removably positioned in the guideway produced by the guides 32 and 34 and secured as shown or at a position upwardly from that shown in the drawing in a direction depicted by the arrow 42.

The cleats 26 are mounted on the side of the backwall member 22 that faces the alley 16 and. provide support for the dogs paws when positioning a ball 44-, reference H68. 1 and 4, for a drop as indicated by the arrow 46.

The ramp 24 may be operatively mounted on the back wall member 22 by way of a pair of conventional hinges, not shown, with the cleats 28 attached to the side visible from the alley 16 as is seen in FIG. 3. If desired, the angle at which the ramp 24 is inclined may be increased by raising, as aforesaid, the backwall member 22in the direction ofthe arrow 42.

The elongated side rails 30 are operatively mounted to the sidewall members 20 by means of conventional threaded fasteners with wing nuts as depicted by the reference numerals 48. If desired, the side rails 30 may extend into the sidewall members 20 in telescope fashion.

Extending upwardly from each of the sidewall members 20 is an upper wall member 50. Openings 52 may be provided in the upper wall member 50 or removably mounting same to the sidewall members 20 at predetermined elevations by means of conventional threaded fasteners and wing nuts 54. If desired, the sidewall member 20 and the corresponding upper wall member 50 may be integrally connected as by forming from the same sheet of material such as plywood or sheet plastic such as plexiglass.

Provided on each upper wall member 50 at a predetermined elevation is a sidewall guide 56 for deflecting the ball 44 inwardly for reasons to be described. The sidewall guide 56 may be shaped in a wide, shallow inverted U-type configuration from conventional materials such as wire or tubular stock and the like. As best seen in FIG. 3, the uppermost portions of both wall guides 56 are operably mounted at a predetermined distance from the inner surfaces of the upper wall members 50.

The apparatus 10 further includes a backboard 58 having a hoop 60 adjustably mounted by means of a bracket 62 provided at the center portion of the backboard 58. The hoop 60, which is slightly larger than the ball 44, is also provided with a net.

The backboard 56 is adjustably mounted to the upper wall members 50 by a pair of arms 66 which are removably secured to the upper wall members 50 by means of conventional fasteners and wing nuts 68. Several sets of openings 70 may also be provided in the arms 66 to allow forward or rearward, left or right movement respectively as seen in FIG. 4, positioning accordingly as desired of the backboard 53. As pointed out supra, the elevation of the basket or hoop 60 may be adjusted as desired by the proper positioning of the upper wall members 50.

The apparatus also includes two spaced-apart backwall guides 72 which may be formed from conventional bar or tubular stock. The upper ends 74 of the guides 72 may be slightly curved. Operatively mounted to the backwall 22 are two spaced-apart backwall guide supports 76, each having a threaded device 78. The supports 76 receive the guides 72 which may be positioned as desired, preferably with the curved upper ends 74 directed partially towards each other and partially towards the basket 66, and then removably secured by tightening the threaded devices 78.

With the apparatus W as described, the dog M may enter the alley or chute 16, the place at which the ball 44 is initially positioned, and proceed to move the ball 44 either with his paws or his nose or snout, the ultimate task being to put the ball 44 in the basket or hoop 60. In the process, the ball is confined to the alley l6 by means of the side rails 30 and to a confined region on either side of the basket 60 as defined by the sidewall members and the upper wall members 50. The backwall 22 and the backwall guides 72 prevent the ball from passing under the backboard 58. This is assured by proper spacing as well as proper height of the backwall guides relative to the size of the ball 44'. The sidewall guides 56 serve to deflect the ball 44 back into the confined region an hence tends to prevent lost Ito-scoring balls.

To further reduce the frequency of lost balls, a wire, not shown, may be loosely strung between the hoop 66 and the nearest point of the upper wall member 50. This may be particularly desired in cases where the width of the alley or chute 16 is relatively large compared to the basket 66 and the ball 44. In such cases the backwall guides 72 are increased in number and spaced accordingly.

It should be noted that in some cases the ball 44 is literally flipped into the basket 66; in other cases, the ball 44 strikes the backboard 58 and is banked into the basket 66; and as expected, in the remaining cases, the ball 44 is somehow slowly rolled up along the backwall guides 72 and, upon contacting the hoop 66, is somehow rolled over that last barrier and into the basket 66. For scoring purposes, the first two drops merit more points than the third case where the ball just barely gets in the basket.

Before explaining how a team of dogs would perform with the apparatus 10, a brief description of the hurdles l2 follows. Each hurdle 12 comprises two upright posts 80 each having a base plate 82. The posts 86, which may be several feet high, are spaced-apart by means of a removably mounted board 84. The board 84 may in fact be several boards, not shown, each of varying widths so that the desired height of the hurdle is achieved by usage of the proper number of boards. The hurdles 12 are spaced apart, as shown at 1211, E2!) and 120, by a desired distance, such as 10 or 12 feet.

In playing the game, hereinafter referred to as Dogs in Basketball, two teams, each requiring the apparatus 10 and hurdles, usually 3, as shown in HO. 1, compete. in such competition, the team scoring the highest number of points within a period is the winning team.

For example, each team may comprise five dogs and their handlers. The period of time may be 8 minutes broken down into four 2 minute quarters. One referee supervises the game and 2 stewards feed the ball 44% back between the rails 30. Scorekeepers may also be used.

At the sound ofa Whistle, the first dog in each team takes off from a starting line 86 over the hurdles set up for their respective team. Upon reaching the entrance to the alley or chute 16, of again their respective apparatus 10, where each steward had placed their respective ball M, each dog, as trained, thereupon pushes the ball 44 between the rails 30 and into the cage comprising the wall members 20 and 50 and the backwall 22 and upwardly into the basket 60. To flip the ball M) against the backboard 58 or to make a clean drop merits 4 team points; to dunk or roll the ball 44 over the edge of the hoop 66 results in two team points; and a miss outside the hoop 60, no points.

After the ball 44 is dropped into the basket 60, or the dog misses the basket 60 or happens for some reason to abandon his efforts, he is supposed to return to the starting line 86 by way of clearing each of the hurdles 12a, 12b and 12c. If a dog skips one or all of the hurdles, either to or from the apparatus 10, one point is deducted from the team score.

At this point, it should be mentioned that the sidewall members 20, the upper wall members 50, and the backboard 58 may be made from clear plastic sheet stock as a preference over wood and other materials. The use of plastics exposes to the viewers the entire performance of each team member. in this regard, a onepiece sidewall 20 [upper wall member 50 is particularly desirable.

Furthermore, the actual height of the basket, the angle at which the backwall 22 and the ramp 24 are inclined, the width of the cage or apparatus 10, the size of the ball 44 and hence the basket 60, the height of the hurdlesall these are variables which may depend on the breed of dog trained to perform and in case of mixed teams, on the smallest team member.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what l have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and methods.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for training and competing dogs in a game wherein a ball is to be dropped into a basket, comprising,

two spaced-apart sidewall means operatively disposed in a substantially upright position relative to the earth surface, each of said sidewall means having a front end and a rear end;

backwall means transversely coupled between said sidewall means near the rear end thereof and at a predetermined inclination relative to said earth surface, said backwall means including ramp means;

backboard means adjustably mounted to said sidewall means and including a backboard and a basket supportedly mounted on said backboard, into which basket each dog participating in said game is to cause said ball to move from an initial position near the front ends of said sidewall means and to ultimately pass through said basket with or without contact with said backboard.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that said sidewall means further includes elongated rails extending from the front ends thereof to form a chute or alley through which the participating dog must first roll said ball with his nose toward the backwall means prior to working the ball upwardly and into said basket.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further characterized in that said backwall means further includes a backwall and ramp means for providing a supporting surface for the participating dog as the ball is being worked into said basket.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further characterized in that said ramp means includes an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion further including a plurality of horizontally disposed elongated cleats secured to said backwall and said lower portion further including a planar member hingedly attached at one end thereof to said backwall at a predetermined distance above the earth surface so that said planar member is inclined at a lessor angle than said backwall.

5 The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further characterized in that said backwall means also includes backwall guide means comprising spaced apart tubular members parallelly disposed on said backwall and extending upwardly above the top edge thereof to a predetermined distance equal to less than the diameter of said ball below said basket to restrain said ball from passing between said backwall means and said basket.

6 The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further characterized in that each of said sidewall means includes a sidewall and sidewall guide means mounted thereon for deflecting the ball in the event same strikes the upper portion of said sidewall, said sidewall guide means being disposed at a predetermined distance above said earth surface.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 further characterized in that said sidewalls extend upwardly relative to said backboard so that said ball is restrained from passing between the upper edge of said sidewalls and said basket.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further characterized in that said basket is adjustably mounted as to height above said earth surface.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further characterized in that said backboard is adjustably mounted between a predetermined forward and rearward position relative to said backwall.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further characterized in that there is provided a plurality of jump hurdles each disposed at different predetermined distances from the front end of said chute to form a combination wherein each participating dog must jump each hurdle, roll the ball placed near the entrance to said chute and eventually drop the ball into the basket before returning by way of jumping each hurdle again to complete the task and achieve a score. 

1. An apparatus for training and competing dogs in a game wherein a ball is to be dropped into a basket, comprising, two spaced-apart sidewall means operatively disposed in a substantially upright position relative to the earth surface, each of said sidewall means having a front end and a rear end; backwall means transversely coupled between said sidewall means near the rear end thereof and at a predetermined inclination relative to said earth surface, said backwall means including ramp means; backboard means adjustably mounted to said sidewall means and inCluding a backboard and a basket supportedly mounted on said backboard, into which basket each dog participating in said game is to cause said ball to move from an initial position near the front ends of said sidewall means and to ultimately pass through said basket with or without contact with said backboard.
 2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that said sidewall means further includes elongated rails extending from the front ends thereof to form a chute or alley through which the participating dog must first roll said ball with his nose toward the backwall means prior to working the ball upwardly and into said basket.
 3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further characterized in that said backwall means further includes a backwall and ramp means for providing a supporting surface for the participating dog as the ball is being worked into said basket.
 4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further characterized in that said ramp means includes an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion further including a plurality of horizontally disposed elongated cleats secured to said backwall and said lower portion further including a planar member hingedly attached at one end thereof to said backwall at a predetermined distance above the earth surface so that said planar member is inclined at a lessor angle than said backwall.
 5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 further characterized in that said backwall means also includes backwall guide means comprising spaced apart tubular members parallelly disposed on said backwall and extending upwardly above the top edge thereof to a predetermined distance equal to less than the diameter of said ball below said basket to restrain said ball from passing between said backwall means and said basket. 6 The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 further characterized in that each of said sidewall means includes a sidewall and sidewall guide means mounted thereon for deflecting the ball in the event same strikes the upper portion of said sidewall, said sidewall guide means being disposed at a predetermined distance above said earth surface.
 7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6 further characterized in that said sidewalls extend upwardly relative to said backboard so that said ball is restrained from passing between the upper edge of said sidewalls and said basket.
 8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further characterized in that said basket is adjustably mounted as to height above said earth surface.
 9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further characterized in that said backboard is adjustably mounted between a predetermined forward and rearward position relative to said backwall.
 10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further characterized in that there is provided a plurality of jump hurdles each disposed at different predetermined distances from the front end of said chute to form a combination wherein each participating dog must jump each hurdle, roll the ball placed near the entrance to said chute and eventually drop the ball into the basket before returning by way of jumping each hurdle again to complete the task and achieve a score. 